I believe the Game of School not only begins at an early age but is something that starts at home. The Game of School in its more basic sense is doing what is needed to be done to be able to move on to what the student feels is actually important to them. One of the key aspects stems from the very first day of school. The instant a teacher look as at the classroom and makes and assumption of how each child may affect the atmosphere in the classroom is the instant the Game of School begins. Just as the student sits down to try and figure out how might they skid by in the class or how much the homework they will receive a or how easily they will get away with ditching all together.
I think the game of school is very much in play no matter where you go but it is not something that needs to be played. In my own school the teachers that were very "my way or the highway" and spent more time talking at us then interactive were the classes i rarely went to or showed up but was not involved in. My favorite classes and teachers were the ones that gave us guidelines but let us do most of the figuring out. They were interactive and didn't require us to sit single file rows, eyes forward hands scribbling on paper. The classes that made me feel like I was learning at my own pace and in non-traditional ways were the classes id id the best in. We weren't given ultimatums we didn't feel like the teacher didn't want to be their either. The students helped to lead that days discussion so it became fun.
I think the game of school is very much in play no matter where you go but it is not something that needs to be played. In my own school the teachers that were very "my way or the highway" and spent more time talking at us then interactive were the classes i rarely went to or showed up but was not involved in. My favorite classes and teachers were the ones that gave us guidelines but let us do most of the figuring out. They were interactive and didn't require us to sit single file rows, eyes forward hands scribbling on paper. The classes that made me feel like I was learning at my own pace and in non-traditional ways were the classes id id the best in. We weren't given ultimatums we didn't feel like the teacher didn't want to be their either. The students helped to lead that days discussion so it became fun.